Ba Chief Promotes Education Support

More Ba students need financial support: Chief

www.fijitimes.com - Friday, October 30, 2009

EVERY year, more children from the Ba province are in need of financial support to help them complete their education.

Ba Provincial Council chairman, Ratu Meli Saukuru said this was the main reason for the annual Adi Salusalu Carnival.

"This year, in the tertiary level alone, there were more than 300 children who were supported through the previous year's fundraising. This costs about $56,000," Ratu Meli said.

In 2008, about $72,000 was allocated for tertiary students alone.

The province has a total of 32 kindergartens, 36 primary schools, six secondary schools and three Bible schools.

Ratu Meli said they used to included sporting activities during the three and a half day carnival, however this year, they decided to focus on choir competitions.

"About 150 choirs are participating in the competition. Our decision to focus on singing is to praise God regardless of what church denomination villagers are from."

As of yesterday afternoon, more than $42,000 had been collected from the 22 stalls at Churchill Park.

Ratu Meli said the carnival was an opportune time for people to get together and enjoy the fun.

"The provincial council meeting is held every year but that is only for chiefs. So this carnival allows the people from the various tikina to get together and to be aware of what is happening in the province," he said.